Goalkeeper Kaapo Kahkonen makes his debut for the Avalanche against the Tampa Bay Lightning

DENVER – Kaapo Kahkonen is finally making his first start with the Avalanche, nearly three weeks after being claimed off waivers. And if you had asked him on October 10th, he probably couldn't have imagined being there on a day when Colorado was coming off a bad loss, missing six of its top 10 forwards and facing a tough climax The Tampa Bay Lightning team is a high-scoring team that has scored six or more points per game as a forward in nine games.

This will be quite a test.

“I want him to do his job. Save the shots you want him to save and mix in a few more,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “When it comes to the goalies we have our eye on, just make sure we get off to a good start.”

Admittedly, Bednar is aware that this is not the easiest task. But it was the plan all along. After taking a stint in the AHL for a conditioning assignment, Kahkonen was called up again on Tuesday to give the Avs the third goalie option they had apparently wanted since opening night. Kahkonen stopped 57 of 62 shots in the AHL over the weekend. This will be his first NHL game since April.

“I don’t know what it’s going to look like,” Bednar said. “It gets hairy sometimes, no question. They are a really good team, a talented team. They don’t need many chances to kill you because they finish so well.”

Alexandar Georgiev will resign on Wednesday. Justus Annunen has the evening off.